To My Scandinavian Friends, Now Residents of the Puget Sound Country:
Ten years have now elapsed since the "Scandinavians on the Pacific" was published, and inasmuch as I now have the opportunity of inserting a few pages, outlining in brief some of the changes that are manifest since the publication of the book, I deem it proper to do so.
"Scandinavians on the Pacific" was my first literary effort. Some of the verses contained in the book were written in a hasty manner, hence found it advisable to rewrite them, coining them into better and more uniform metre, and later they appeared in my book of poems, "Echoes from Dreamland," which may be found in the Seattle Public Library, in the library of the University of Washington, and in the libraries of Eastern universities and colleges.
The opportunity of outlining the interesting changes that have taken place in that period, and being enabled to make the addition a part of the original book, comes to me by the generous suggestion of Mr. F. P. Searle, Manager of the Ballard Office of The Scandinavian American Bank, Ballard Station, Seattle, Washington, as it is Mr. Searle's intention to present the book to all of his Scandinavian customers and friends.
In the year 1899, while completing the history contained in the original part of this book, I could not have conceived of the wonderful changes that have been made throughout the whole Northwest, and more particularly in the City of Seattle. During the time I was writing the book, one of my very pleasant headquarters was The Scandinavian American Bank, then located at the corner of First Avenue and Yesler Way, in the building that is now occupied by the State Bank of Seattle, and it is a source of a great deal of satisfaction to me, that with a few exceptions, all the officers and employees of The Scandinavian American Bank are still with the grand institution, which has developed from a very modest bank of that date, into one of the largest and most successful banking institutions in the State of Washington.
First in my mind is Mr. Andrew Chilberg, to whom I dedicated this book, and mentioned at the time that he was President of the bank, and can still make the statement that he occupies the same honored position; also Mr. James F. Lane, Cashier, and quite a number of the old time employees. Mr. A. H. Soelberg, however, is now connected with the State Bank of Seattle, in the capacity of Vice President and Cashier.
It is not my intention to confine the additional pages wholly to The Scandinavian American Bank; but the associations were so pleasant, that it naturally comes to my mind in a very vivid way, and before I leave the subject entirely, I wish to speak of John Edward Chilberg, who at the time the book was published, was known only as being an energetic business man, in common with a great many others then residing in Seattle. He is now the Vice President of The Scandinavian American Bank, and the most of his success has been to the benefit of Seattle, as it was through his foresight and faith in the future development of this city that he brought about the erection of the first sky scraper, which is the Alaska Building, and the present home of the Scandinavian American Bank, and it was through his energy that such a large proportion of Alaska's resources were obtained for Seattle.
In looking at his picture, as one of the Chilberg family, representing four generations, which is found on page 48, it would indeed be a shrewd judge of appearances that could have foreseen the success that this man has made for himself, and for Seattle.